if a mm A Fawcett Publication STERN OCT. NO. 1 A rt Editor Ai JITTER STERN A Fawcett Publication WHAT'S THE MATTER, YCSROAN)^ UOOWIE LES? yUH I AM/ A Executive Editor WILL LIEBERSON TEX RITTER WESTERN 7 ~*~ Editor t. J. HEY MAN Art Editor # Ai JCTTER The following outstanding rnuguiinet are euiily identified •n their covert by the words A FAWCETT PUBLICATION. CAPT MARVEL ADVENTURES • LASH LaRUE WESTERN • THE MARVEL FAMILY • FAWCETT'S FUNNY ANIMALS WHIZ COMICS • WESTERN HERO • ROCKY LANE WESTERN • NYOKA THE JUNGLE GIRL • GABBY HAYES WESTERN CAPT. MARVEL JR. • MASTER COMICS • TOM MIX WESTERN • MONTE HALE WESTERN • HOPALONG CASSIDY ROD CAMERON WESTERN • BILL BOYD WESTERN • SIX-GUN HEROES • SMILEY BURNETTE WESTERN Every effort is mod* to insure that these comic magazines contain the highest quality of wholesome entertainment. Co Sweat-fr. President ffm SIf Wm he blood- cuvdLinO whoops resounding from the hilts told tbx rjtter, the two-fisted Prairie Rander, that the Indians were on the warpath i It was up to Tex and his lead-slinging six-$uiw to save Red Gulch from the menace of WARPATH VENGEANCE/ W r /v M >S 7 « j / TEX RITTER WESTERN. Oct.. 1950. Vol. I. No. I. it published bi-monthly by Fawcett Publications. Inc . Fawcett Place. Greenwich. Conn Second class entry applied for at the post office, Greenwich, Conn., with additional entry applied for at Louisville. Ky. Copyright 1950 by Fawcett Publication;. Inc. Trademark of Fawcett Publications. Inc. Editorial and advertising offices. 67 W 44th St.. N. Y. 18. N Y. Send remittances and letters concern- ing subscriptions, change of address, etc., to Circulation Dept., Fawcett PI.. Greenwich. Conn Subscription rare 12 issues lor $1.20 in U S.. possessions and Canada. Foreign, $1.70 in international money order, U. L tunds Printed in U. $. A. TEX RITTER WESTERN hold on, you coyoTBs. 1 SEEMS TO ME THAT TO U HOMBRES DON’T KNOW THE MEANING OF 1 ^ V FAIR PLAT' J. lax HAS JUST COME OFF THE TRAIL TO VISIT THE , SHERIFF pF RED GULCH WHEN. > ) THAT’S s' SILK BEEDY’S PLACE/HIS ^ THUSS ARE ^ BEATING UP AN INDIAN/ / LOOKS LIKE A RUCKUS UP NEAR THAT GAMBLING ^ CASINO/ RECKON I’D ) BETTER TAKE A LOOK‘D ON HEARING THE NAME OF THE FAMOUS PRAIRIE RANGER, THE CUNSLICKS INSTANTLY DISPERSE I’M MIGHTY A SORRY ABOUT ) ALL THIS, BRIGHT ARROW/ IF YOU WANT TO BRING CHARGES, AGAINST THOSE CRITTERS I’LL / « help youj^m NO WANT HELP OF PALEFACE/ I INDIAN I BRAVE PAY BACK IN HI5 OWN WAY. EASY — THAT’S TEX RITTER, ^ THE PRAIRIE V RANGER J y KEEP YOUR NOSE OUT OF THIS, LAWMAN ■/ THIS SPELLS TROUBLE / THERE’5 ONLY AN UNEASY \ THE ONLY /TRUCE BETWEEN ) SON OF /CHIEF SILVER / CHIEF < WATER’S TRIBE SILVER AND THIS TOWN/ WATER// IT WOULDN’T TAKE ir-~l MUCH TO START \l ^^\SOMETHING 'f-'f INUTE5 LATER YOU’RE A \TH£Y HAVE GOVERNMENT A LEGAL LAWMAN, RITTER /) RIGHT TO WHY DON’T YOU 78E THERE, CLEAN THOSE < SILK/ INJUNS OUT OF ) BESIDES, THERE? EVERY- / WE HAVE ONE IN THIS < THE CHIEF’S TOWN IS IN A WORD THAT DANGER WHILE/THERE WILL THEY CAMP ^ BE NO TP.OU- IN THE HILLS// BLE IF BOTH SIDES LIVE UP V TO THE TRUCE / I RECKON SILK OWES US AN EXPLANATION FOR ALL THIS/ COME ON/ WHEN HE \ GETS THROUGH J TELLING HIS ^ STORY TO THOSE HOT-HEADED BRAVES , IT’S ) GOING TO MAKE FOR ) TROUBLE/ 7 THAT INJUN COME, IN SPOILING FOR TROUBLE. WHEN HE PULLED A KNIFE ON ME, MY V' BOYS WENT TO WORK 7 — i ON HIM / , TEX RITTER WESTERN EASY ENOUGH FOR you TO TALK LIKE THAT, KNOWING I AIN’T ^ I OARRY INO A <3UNI/>^ NO MAN EVER OUESTIONEP MY COURAGE BEFORE, BEEPY/ I RECHON YOU’LL SWALLOW r THAT INSULT BEFORE I ^ ^ OLEAR OUT OF HERE.' NO NEEP TO OET SO . EYCITEP, *S TEX.' I- 1 PIPN’T MEAN ANYTHING THEN I TAKE IT YOU’RE A POLOS JZ- — i IN&J YOU SURE MAP E HIM ORA WL, TEX/ r ANP HE WON’T L FORGET IT/ THAT HOMBRE IS BAP -a MEPlClNEl 1 HAVE A OOOP NIOHT’S REST, TEX * SHERIFF I pon’t trust the worp of ANY INJUN CHIEF.' YOU OOULP RAISE A POSSE HERE IN A ‘ MINUTE TO CLEAN THEM OUT, IF YOU WANTEP TO.' BUT I RECKON WE’P NEEP A PRAIRIE RANGER WITH OUTS TO PO THAT.' I’M propping my (Sun belt, i SILK .'MY FI5T5 ARE ALL / — ^ I NEEP W-WAIT * > V A MINUTE—. 1 I RECKON YOU MEN ALL KNOW THAT THE INPIANS OUTNUMBER US.' WE < WOULPN’T STANP MUCH ) OF A CHANCE IF THAT J TRUCE WAS BROKEN.’ <. IF THERE’S ANYMORE RUCKUS WITH THE INPIANS. THE SHERIFF ANP I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT^F-rri FIR5T 1 — — LET * Ll!Iziv^PV7 / ^X THERE WILL BE TROUBLE, , BEST TO SO NOW, TEX RITTER.' WHITE DEVIL ATTACK X WITH GUN .' OTHER BRAVE y GO TO HAPPY HUNTING ■*- GROUND.'ONLY 6TORMCLOUD ESCAPE .' DEATH TO THE WHITE 1 DEVILS' , UDDENLY, TEX’S KEEN VI6ION SPOTS A GLITTER- ING STONE, AND.... . FTER TEX EXPLAINS THE DANGERS OF A WAR . I KNOW THAT TEX RITTER IS FRIEND OF INDIAN PEOPLE, BUT THERE ARE OTHER WHITES WHO WOULD MAKE WAR.' THEY KILL MY BRAVES — ATTACK SON OF CHIEF.' MY TRIBE IS RESTLESS.' BUT IF YOU DO NOT WANT WAR, WHY DID YOU SEND YOUR BRAVES TO ATTACK US IN TOWN? LAST NIGHT THEY CAME WITH FLAMING ARROWS.' CHIEF PIP NOT SEND WARRIORS TO RED GULCH.' WHITE DEVIL KNOWN AS SILK COME HERE TO BUY OUR LAND.' ME SEND SON TO TELL SILK HE NO CAN BUY.' THEN WHITE MEN ATTACK SO N OF CHIEF. 'LOOK AT ) THERE ARE MANY THIS .’A 4 STONES THAT SOLD ] SHINE LIKE THAT NUGGET.' ON INDIAN LAND.' SILK HEARD ABOUT ) IT IS GOLD BEING UP < WORTH HERE ! THAT’S WHY ) NOTHING HE WANTED TO 4. TO MY DRIVE YOUR PEOPLE \ PEOPLE.' AWAY.' THIS SHINING STONE IS OF MUCH VALUE TO WHITE MEN, CHIEF SILVER WATER TEX RITTER WESTERN UP, FURY.' WE’LL HAVE TO JUMP THIS ■ r CHASM J you CAN DO IT, WHITE PLASH J M&FTER REMOVING THE HP STONE THAT HOBBLED white flash, tex rides INTO RED GULCH MAPS IT.' BUT HPT WITH TOO MUCH X TO SPARE J y— "" WE SHOULDN’T \ NOTHING- HAVE WAITED, TEX.' ^ JUST THE INJUNS PLUGGED ) TET J TWO OF THE PR 05- PECTORS THAT WENT fW^ INTO THE HILLS.' WHAT DO TO LI INTEND TO DO HLTjfl ABOUT THIS ? y* Z-fr’S GET ) SOUNDS LIKE 9 EM NOW ! J SOME MIGHTY SILK HAD <> ANGRV THE RIGHT )( PALAVER.' IDEA WHAT’S T UP NOW? TEX RITTER WESTERN >HORTLY AFTER WARPS , WHEN THE SHERIFF ' ENTERS HIS OFFICE / t 5TANP A BETTER CHANCE OF MAKING THE VARMINTS SHOW THEIR HA NO PRE5SEP THIS WAV.' THEY PLLK5GEP TWO OLV PE5ERT RATS.' MAY BE THEY’LL TRY WHY IN TARNATION i TEX RITTER WESTERN OVINQ WITH BLINPING SPEEP ACROSS ) THE PRAIRIE, FURY HURLS HIMSELP AT THE FLEEING QUARRY AMP GRRRR WHITE men! all right, you VARMINTS, THE MASQUERAPE SECONP TEX RITTER WESTERN THE FIRST TIME I SAW you polecats riding WITH SAPPLES, 1 HA P A HUNCH A THIS.' NOW ST A TALKING YOU PLUGGED THOSE TWO PROSPECTORS, dipm’t you ? OUR I PEA.' SILK PUT < UP TO HORTLV AFTER warps..,. f WHAT’5 , UP, TEX: > A/N’T < THOSE TWO OF > ► SILK’S ^ , BOYS ? y HE SENT US OUT TO THE HILLS PRESSEP AS INPIANS, WITH STRICT ORDERS TO PLUG ANY WHITE MAN.' THEN, PRES5EP AS WHITE MEN WE WERE TO SHOOT ANY INJUN WE SAW.' NO WON PER THE )\ INPIANS ANP 44 THE MEN IN. TOWN SOT STIRREP UP.' \ START WALKING ) WE’RE GOING 1 N SACK TO REP \S K-n GULCH J y RIGHT.' THEY WERE OUT PLAYING JNPIAN WHEN THE Y PLUGGED THOSE TWO PROSPECTORS. 1 THEY WERE ORPEREP BY SILK TO STIR UP TROUBLE BETWEEN' THE INPIANS . ANP US .'SEEMS THE % INDIANS HAVE GOLD ON r. THEIR LANP THAT SILK >45 HAS A HANKERING — M - JJU ' l FOR * 'U±T WHY, THE ORNERY COYOTE J YOU AIN’T TAKING ME NO PLACE. TEX RITTER.' SAY YOUR PRAYERS I’M GOING TO LET PAYLIGHT __ THROUGH YOU .» NICE GOING, FURY.' I’LL TAKE OVER ■ — r NOW J—T-T-^ TEX RITTER WESTERN IT’S TOO > LATE , TEX.' i I RECKON WE’LL HAVE TO FIGHT ^ NOW J ) □ OPENLY..../ THE INJUNS! ? ' HUNDREDS OF THEM! THEY'RE COM I NO "v THIS WAY! IT'S WAR' THERE'S STILL A LONG CHANCE \ 1 CAN TAKE.' I EVERYBODY _ SIT TISHT- 7 AND HOLD V YOUR FIRE.' ) THAT VARMINT \ WAS READY < ) TO SACRIFICE ' INNOCENT ^ WOMEN ANP CHILPREN SO HE COULP GET HIS < HAND ON THE INJUN SOL P ' P-PON’T HIT ME ANYMORE 1-1 PIP IT.' I’L CONFESS TO EVERYTH INS.*. SINCE YOU STARTED THIS RUCKUS , YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOME TALL rr\ EXPLAINING J WAIT, CHIEF. 1 GIVE US A CHANCE TO TELL YOU WHAT REALLY HAPPENED J LOOK- THESE J ARE THE WHITE MEN who wanted war J v BETWEEN US WHAT HE DID SURE 7 TOOK V GUTS J TAKE MY BRAVES BACK TO } v\Uik THE HlLL ^* -- ILK OUICKLY STAMMERS OUT HIS CONFESSION THE WHOLE TOWN IS SURE G LAP YOU HAPPENED TO MOSEY A LONS THIS WAY, _ T EX I RECKON IT’S ALL IN THE PAY’S WORK OF A PRAIRIE THERE SHOULP A TEX RITTER BE NO MORE BLOOD J SPEAKS TRUTH J SHED BECAUSE OF / THERE SHALL BE THESE MEN JOUR ) NO WAR'I.SHAL PEOPLE CAN LIVE TOGETHER IN PEACE J LET US SIVE THESE MEN THEIR JUST { PUNISHMENT.' J TEX RITTER WESTERN t YES SIR, FOLKS, IMS IS QUITE A PREDICAMENT I'M IN, BUT PON'T FRET FER A MOMENT - -THINGS <7 WILL GET WORSE AS W 6 . r V GO ALONG/ /If paleface/ HOWDY, PARDNERS/ DID I TELL YUH WHAT HAPPENED TO ME . ' ,LA5T WEEK? ^ ' 'fGROAN) HYAR IT .COMES/ /HOLD ON TUH^ YORE EARS, EVERYBODY' , IT’S GOINS TO SET ' \MISHTY WINDY/ s OH, OH, STUFF UP YORE’ EARS, EVERYBODY/ HYAR vCOMES BUFFALO BULL/ > 1 V lx! X w w /vj 7 ^ SFMMl ! i w r~HTTQP<»^ -V ntfjTM TEX RITTER WESTERN NOPE, BECUZ I ALREADV HAD MUH PLAN OP ACTION F IGGERED OUT.' AND IT WORKED! JEST AS THEV ^ WUZ ABOUT TO LEAP AT ME PER THE KILL. I TRAPPED THEM! IT WUZ EASV — I SURROUNDED THEM,’ (gasp;/// Zf HUH? vuh \ 7 TRAPPED NINE HUNDRED AND SIX REDSKINS' HOW? LIE NOTHING/ THAT WUZ THE TRUTH/ BUT THAT WUZ ONLV THE START OF MUH ADVENTURE! t RODE INTO THE WOODS UNTIL I SUDDENLV CAME TUH A CLEARING! I LOOKED UP — TEX RITTER WESTERN WUZ IT A BIS . MOUNTAIN I ^ LION BIS? HE WUZ M GIGANTIC! HE WUZ at least sixteen !NCHES,AND HE KEPT k. GROWLING AND— . HUH? CGULP5 A MOUNTAIN LION/ "AND T SAW A HUGE MOUNTAIN UON STANDING ON TOP OP A NEARBY BOULPER— ' GRRRROWWLLL 'I RECKON 1 YUH DON'T { KNOW HOWTO FIGGER — j — X MEASURE THE SIZE OF A MOUNTAIN LION 8V THE DISTANCE BETWEEN ^S-jHIS EVES/ HOLD- ON! ARE VUH ^ LOCO? SINCE WHEN IS A SIXTEEN INCH MOUNTAIN UON BIG? CGASP) /// WAL, THIS CRITTER KEPT ^ SNARLING AT ME AND IT 1 LOOKED LIKE HE WUZ J A-GOIN’ TO JUMP ANY MOMENT/ BUT I WUZN’T THE LEAST BIT WORRIED/ X HAD MV FAITHFUL RIFLE WITH ME/ ^ "I AIMED MUH TRUST? SHOTGUN AND FIRED "BUT WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARED AU/AV, THE RIGHT IN THAT LION’S FACE — MOUNTAIN LION WUZ STILL ON TOP OF THE TEX RITTER WESTERN ANYWAY I ONLY HAD TWENTY BULLETS, AND BEFORE I KNEW IT T WUZ- > DOWN TO MUH LAST ONE/ X HAD T WASTED NINETEEN BULLETS, BUTE I MADE UP MY MIND THIS LAST>^ ONE WOULD COUNT ! - BUT EVERYT/ME WHE/V THE STAOKE CLEARED AWAY V THE MOUNTAIN LION W UZ^; ( STILL THAR! CREEPERS. \VAL* WHEN I SAW THAT BIS SNARLING CAT STILL THAR, I ADMIT I GOT [FLABBERGASTED.' I FIRED ^BULLET AFTER BULLET-^^ GOSH. 1 GOSH WHAT .HAPPENED?. TGASP) 'YUH OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED OF lA OH YEAH?^ YORESELF.' IT TOOK YUH _VYUH' HAVEN'T TWENTY BULLETS TO SET \ I HEARD THE RID OF ONE MOUNTAIN UONl \V WHOLE STORY.' ^THAT’S TERRIBLE SHOOTING!) T* X PULLED THE TRIGGER AND THIS TIME WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARED AWAY, THE MOUNTAIN . LION WUZ GONE F ROM TH E TOP OF^^d JTHE BOULDER/jg^SaBP^™“"^^H 50 WHAT’S SO WONDERFUL ’BOUT THAT? YEAH/ AFTER I FIRED THAT LAST BULLET AND THE MOUNTAIN LION WUZ GONE, X CLIMBED TUH THE TOP OF THE BOULDER, LOOKED DOWN THE OTHER. r c TEX RITTER WESTERN THOSE TRAPPERS SURE HAVE THEMSELVES A GOOD TIME WHEN THEY HIT TOWN TO SELL THEIR FURS/ YAHOOOO-.. - LEM ZETTER.' STILL AROUNP, YOU OLP 7 GALOOT, r eh? r HANK TREMONT.' PUT'ER ( THERE, I HANK/ ’ \ a /herever TEX RITTER goes in his crime- '~ ru battling career, FURY- the best pard a man could have - fights alongside his master.' But where did Tex find his faithful four-footed pal? That story begins in larrimee. Once a year, at trading time, the town is filled with the boisterous lone hunters of the mountains.. I'LL TEACH \rECHON T YOU NOT TO YTHINGS ARE BANPY WORPS JGETTING WITH ME, /OUT OF REP r^HANP A MITE. REILLY.' L I'LL JUST / L w COOL THE \/A BOVSPOWN SOME/ y THIS IS NONE OF YOUR - FIGHT, X STRANGER.' GET OUT OF HERE.' / EASY THERE. I LET'S QUIT THAT.' Tex is passing the time of day YEP, I ALWAYS \NO WONPEKiTRAPPEKS ] COME HERE AT \LEAP A LONELY LIFE FUR-TRAPING T|ME,)|N THE MOUNTAINS TEX! BUSINESS IS i AIL YEAR LONG, HAROLY MIGHTY GOOD /SEEING A SOUL TILL Witt the owner of a -traveling Carnival in town nrautf THEN.' A THEY MEET HERE AT < V THIS time for 1 yT"7 selling: l JrA&A Kf j TEX KfTTTft WDW The -trappers walk on, but -their words linger in Tex'S 'mind and... zater,~ this must be the PLACE/ IT'S A _ TYPICAL TRAPPER'S CABIN, AM? THERE'S THE LITTLE CART THEY USE FOR TARING THEIR PELTS TO TOWN/ ^ r DON'T KNOW exactly, but IT'S SOMEWHERE UP ON HIGH RIDGE- ALONG THE OLD ^ TRAIL/ A BY THE WAY, WHERE IS THIS BILL SIEGER'S CABIN? A iT IT'S STRANGE SIEGER'S NOT > HERE/ AFTER ALL, HE'S HUNT EC? AND TRAPPED ALL YEAR FOR THIS SELLING TIME.' RECKON- I'LL . INVESTIGATE.' TEX RITTER WESTERN NOTHIN* IN nit CAST EXCEPT A ■ ' POOS PELTS.' BUT IT'S I FROM THAT HARNESS PIMf NT that THE CART MAS ABOUT TO BE HITCHED UP/ TEX RITTER WESTERN "muPPEREP, ALL RIGHT.' I WONDER HOW THE KILLER GOT CLOSE enough to knife him with that dog here.' — SIEGER MUST HAVE PUT HIS FURS ON THE CART TO TAKE TO TOWN, THEN CAME BACK INSIDE HERE FOR SOMETHING . 1 THE KILLER STRUCK, THEN TOOK THE BEST PELTS FROM THE CART OUTSIDE AND VAMOOSED. I'LL REPORT THIS TO THE SHERIFF BACK IN LARRIMEE.' THEN I'M GOING TO TRACK DOWN THAT KNIFE-THROWING Sr r WIZARD.' THE KILLER STOOP OUTSIPK THE CABIN AND TOSSED THE KNIFE THROUGH THIS WINDOW' WHOEVER | DID IT IS SURE ONE TERRIFIC MAN WITH A KNIFE.' HE'S GOT , TO BE TO TOSS THROUGH A GLASS WINDOW ANP STILL GET HIS TARGET.' •Z\ 1 I, Ml, <1 Tex is about to mount White Flash when he notices — I'VE GOT TO HAVE A NAME FOR YOU.' YOU'RE REALLY A NICE DOG, THOUGH A FEW MINUTES AGO YOU WERE A FURY.' YES, A REAL— SAY, THAT'S IT.' THAT'S .YOUR ^ NEW NAME — —7 FURY ! \ ^ FINDING THAT MURDERING VARMINT IS GOING TO BE LIKE LOOKING FOR A NEEDLE IN A HAY- STACK! THERE'S ONLV ONE THING I KNOW . ABOUT HIM — HE'S ONE TERRIFIC , ^ ■s. MAN WITH A knife; J TEX RfTTE* WESTERN S' THANKS/ T JUST PUT IT ON THE SAME WAY YOU WOULD ANY y OTHER " ( contest/ BUT WAIT- : MAYBE THAT'S ALL 1 NEED TO KNOW/ HE'S SURE TO BE IKJ TOWN, SELLING HIS STOLEN FURS/ X MIGHT v' TRY A LITTLE TRICK / r later, in town, Tex “halts beside the traveling carnival owner — SURE, WE'RE ALWAYS RUNNJNG CONTESTS — ROPING CONTESTS, SHOOTING CONTESTS/ WE NEVER ) RAN A KNIFE-TOSSING CONTEST BEFORE, BUT IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT, WE'LL PLAY A LONG WITH YOU. RANGER/ I « I The next day, Tex and Fury stand oh the side- lines, watching the contestants — ] SURE, ^ / RANGER-' 'Contest news TRAVELS LIKE WILDFIRE.' > EVERY MAN *4 HANDY WITH A N BLADE OUGHT TO SHOW UP FOR IT i . TOMORROW/ A The big. bearded wan tosses his knife and — FOR THE FINAL CONTEST FEAT I WANT YOU TO PUT ON A SPECIAL ONE I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT / LATER/ ' ^ THERE '5 BEEN NO REALLY OUTSTANDING KNIFE-TOSSING SO FAR, LET'S SEE WHAT THAT r BIG BRUISER HAS w* W TO OFFER ! y/i RECKON I’LL 1 HAVE A TRY AT WINNING THIS PRIZE « MONEY/ > JUMPING JEHOSHAPHAT/ THAT'S 7 REALLY TOSSING THEM' ^ Ss. THREE IN A ROW.' J STAND BACK THAT SURE IS MIGHTY FANCY TOSSING, PARTNER/ AND NOW. FOR A SPECIAL PRIZE/ LET'S > SEE IF YOU CAN HIT THE A TARGET THROUGH b — ^ THIS PIECE OF / UUST SET GLASS/ A 'IT UP/ . TEX RITTER WESTERN HOLD ON, THERE, PARTNER! j THAT'S MIGHTY FINE TOSSING . 1 ONLY THING I'VE EVER SEEN LIKE IT WAS A KNIFE TOSSED THROUGH A CABIN < WINDOW-' WES, RIGHT THROUGH A CABIN WINDOW INTO A MAN'S, BACK.' BY THE WAY, SOLD ANY FURS HERE IN TOWN , PARTNER? GET MOVING, BRONC. r GIDDAP ! j Tex dashes after the fleeing ’killer, unaware that Fury is following him — Later, in the hills THERE HE GOES -INTO HIS cabin; THIS IS THE END OF THE TRAIL.’ , V. FOR HIM . 1 I'LL PICK UP HIS TRAIL, PRONTO ! HE'S NOT FAR AHEAD OF US. 1 , J TEX RITTER WESTERN Later on, back in Larrimee — | THANKS FROM ALL OF US FOR NABBING THAT VARMINT.' THE j PRAIRIE RANGERS MUST BE MIGHTY PROUP TO HAVE YOU WITU THEM, TEX l BUT 1 WISH YOU'D LET US GIVE YOU A RE WARP.' I'VE GOT MY REWARD ~ FURY, MV NEW PARD/ TEX RITTER WESTERN STAGE-COACH HOLDUP By William Shelton ARRYING fifty thousand dollars in gold . bullion; the county sheriff, as special I guard; the banker, himself; and a nervous fingered shot-gun man, Driver Cliff Gage t popped the long bullwhip over the horses’ heads. The stage coach groaned and creaked I and wobbled under the terrific strain as it I labored up the last few yards of a steep hill. 1 Reaching the crest finally, Gage halted to give the lathered, panting horses a breather. Ahead the road looped in crazy curves down a forty- j five degree incline, then rolled out across a flat, ! dusty, sage-strewn plain, like a buff-colored runner carpet. About a half mile along the ■ straight-away road, a clump of cottonwood trees 1 to the right half hid a huge log house. Smoke curled lazily from a stone chimney. Just beyond the house, the road led straight toward a nar- row, rocky ledged chasm. There, a white painted wooden bridge stretched across the gorge, high above the Catamount River, over to the tall brooding mountain-lands beyond. “Thought we weren’t going to hit Bailey’s toll house this trip. Cliff!" said Shorty Higgins, shot-gun man,, riding the boot alongside Gage. "Old Harrington'll pop a blood vessel when he discovers it!" Gage, youngish, blue-eyed, glared harshly at his messenger. He spat and brushed powdery dust from his checkered shirt. “I’m runnin’ this rig, Shorty. If you or Harrington don’t , like my route — walk!" A mite touchy. I’d say," remarked Shorty, checking the load in his shot-gun. “I ain’t aim- ing to pry into any of your secrets, Cliff.” Wiping the whitish dust from his face, Gage climbed down out of the boot and, as he started around to the rear of .the coach a man’s head thrust itself out suddenly from the window of the cab door. A round, pudgy face scowled at him angrily. This isn't the route we’d planned on. Gage! ,: What’s the meaning of this?" demanded John Harrington, _ pompous banker of the town of Gold Nugget. Change in plans," was all Gage said, testing ' the big Concord's springs, rear wheel, and the body of the coach. "Nothing for you to be con- cerned over.” "But you agreed to take the Canyon River road to be certain that we'd escape Big Moose and his outlaw band. You know as well as I do ' •that drifters and gunmen hang out at Bailey’s jtoll house!" Harrington exploded. Big Moose is liable to be anywhere — even on the Canyon River road, Mister Harrington,’ observed Gage quietly, as h« started to return up front to check the sweated horses. Back in his seat once again, Gage’s whip cracked, the coach rumbled forward, and then it swayed and jounced down the looping road toward Bailey’s toll-bridge house. Reaching the' straight-away road, Gage felt Shorty’s eyes watching him suspiciously. “Look,” shouted the shot-gun man. “There’s old Bailey’s sign!” Just ahead, off to the right of the road amidst a clump of dry, dust-covered sagebrush, an old weatherbeaten sign read: STOP Pay toll for passage over Bailey's bridge, REPAIRS Blacksmith-wheelwright on premises. REST Rooms, meals at moderate prices. No paper currency accepted. All fees payable in gold. Harry Bailey, Prop. When they reached the clump of dusty cottonwoods. Gage .reined the horses into a narrow cutoff from the main road, and braked to a halt in a big open yard. Set back a few yards was the big log house. There was a hitching rail at the foot of a long flight of steps leading to a wide verandah. To the left of the main house, pushed back toward the rear, was a small, iron-roofed blacksmith’s shop, but neither the clang of metal or the roar of bellows issued from it. There was no sign of anyone about the place. “Strange,” muttered Gage, jumping down from his seat. “Bailey's usually on hand to col- lect his toll for the bridge, at least.” He raised cupped hands to his mouth. “Halloo, Bailey!” His own voice echoed back dismally. Harrington’s head poked itself out the win- dow. "There's no one here,. Gage — drive on, man, while we can!” “He may be having trouble, he may be sick . . .” Gage started to say, when the ver- andah door opened slowly and Bailey, tall, angu- lar and gaunt, came down the steps toward him. He looked a little paler than usual, Gage thought. But Bailey wasn’t alone. A tall stranger, with a tight pinched face, followed closely on Bailey’s heels. Six-guns hung low on his lean hips, and claw-like hands hovered closely over the pro- truding butts. Bailey waved an emotionless greeting. Gage went forward to talk to him but, before he could get the words out of his mouth, Harrington TEX RITTER WESTERN i leaped from the stage cab and stomped toward him. • “What kind of trick are you pulling. Gage?” he gasped hoarsely, his face livid with rage. “Why’d you come to this place?" “I told you — a last minute change in plans,” Gage snapped. “No!” bellowed Harrington. "I believe you've deliberately led us into a trap!” Gage started to lunge at the fat banker, but a sudden movq from the stranger with Bailey held him back. Gun metal flashed in the sunlight. Gun in hand, the stranger weaved back away from Bailey. "Just don't anybody move,” he rasped. To Harrington, he said: "Git that sheriff out of there, pronto!” And to Gage: "Muzzle that shot-gun monkey up there, or . . The sheriff jumped out of the cab, while Shorty threw his shot-gun down to the ground with a thump. Three unshaven strangers, wearing brush chaps, battered wide brimmed hats pulled down over their eyes, ghosted in from the far side of the stage coach, guns gripped tightly in their fists. A huge man on a horse rode out from where he'd been hiding behind the blacksmith's shop and halted before the group of men. “Nice work, men,” he boomed, surveying the victims hard-eyed. “Big Moose!” Muttered Harrington. The outlaw rubbed his chin, grinned evilly. “Not often I get to meet bankers socially, Mis- ter Harrington. Pleased to meet you!” Harrington cleared his throat nervously. “Y-you won’t get away with this. Moose. I'll lee you hanged yet!” “Pah!" spat the huge man. “Big Moose never gets caught. I kind of thought you'd run that bullion out along this route — so we kind of waited for you to come along-*— see ?” “I hold you responsible for this outrage, Gage!" the banker exploded, but he was cut short by another voice. “Hey, Moose!” It came from one of the out- laws who'd climbed into the stage ^ab to get the gold. “The strongbox is bolted to the floor. Can't budge it!” Big Moose grunted, climbed down from his horse. “I figgered it would be too heavy to carry on horse anyway. We're going to take the whole stage coach! Hitch your horses to the rear and climb aboard 1” The men did as they were instructed. Gage watched in silence, as three of them climbed into the cab with the strongbox. Big Moose, himself, took the reins on the driver’s seat. An- other outlaw- sat beside him, holding his six- guns aimed at' Gage and the others. Then, the whip cracked and the stage jolted forward with ■ clatterous roar. In a few seconds it was gone in a cloud of dust, rattling along the main road toward the bridge, hidden now by the cotton- woods. "Fifty thousand dollars — and Big Moose is : getting away with all of it!" mumbled Harring. ton; then, turning on the sheriff, he barked, “I demand Cliff Gage's arrest, Sheriff. He was the one who led us into this trap !” Scooping up his Winchester rifle, the sheriff trained it on Gage. “Circumstantial evidence Gage— but it might hold. Sure looks like Har^ rington’s right!” Gage pushed the rifle aside. “Wouldn’t want a falie arrest charg’e on your hands, now would you, Sheriff?” The sheriff, Harrington, Shorty, and even Bailey, stared incredulously at Gage. “What do you mean?" inquired the sheriff. “Listen, and you’ll find out,” Gage snapped, cocking an ear toward the bridge. Then, just as Gage expected, it came — sudden like ! First, the splintering crash of wood snapping like many pistol shots going off one after the other; harsh, terrifying screams from men’s ! throats; the terrible, screeching whinneys of horses . . . growing fainter, fainter ... as if plunging down into some bottomless abyss. And now only the echoes came bounding bach i from the hills beyond. “They crashed the bridge rail, I know it 1” . Bailey yelled. “I figgered they would,” Gage nodded. t “What's the river like this time of year, Bailey — quick!” ^ "Why, the bed's dried up. Ain’t nothing down there but mud this time of year!” Bailey stut- tered out. “What’s the meaning of all this?” sputttered Harrington. “The weight of your strongbox bowed my rear axle, Harrington. I was worried it might snap at any moment, and leave us on the Can- yon River road like sitting ducks — a hundred miles from nowhere. I knew Bailey had a blacksmith, so I headed here to have the axle propped a bit . . .” "My smithy ran off when Big Moose swooped down on me and took over,”' wailed Bailey.- “Blinking coyote!” 4 — fi STILL don’t understand,!’ exploded A Harrington impatiently to Gage. "So * what?” “Didn’t you notice," said Gage quietly, "three outlaws got into the cab. Time they reached the bridge, the extra weight of one man snapped the axle and . . . well, you know the rest.” “That clears you. Gage — c’mon, let’s get those critters,” said the sheriff. Gage chuckled. “Gonna be messy — all that mud, but worth it for the reward, eh, Sheriff?" THE END TEX RITTER WESTERN RIDING the range TEX RITTER 9172 SUNSET BOULEVARD, HOLLYWOOD 46, CALIFORNIA howdy Folks’ I'm sure mighty happy to be able to write all of you this letter. It makes me feel as if we're all real close pards ! The other day, White Flash and 1 were moseying along the trail when suddenly a slide of loose rock and dirt Came tumbling down right across our path. And, in the middle of it all,l saw an old pard of mine, Windy, rolling head-over-heels and half-covered with the sliding dirt , J managed to get a lariat around him and rushed him into town to X>oa Foster, pronto. Luckily for Windy, he wasn't badly hurt, and looking mighty sheepish, he told us what had happened. Seems he had taken to the hills with a heavy load of gear tied on his saddle. But did he double-hitch his saddle for mountain tiding the way all sensible buckaroos do? No. not Windy J He was always one for taking chances and trusting to luck. A single-hitch was good enough for him! So when he tried to go up Steep Bluff, that single-hitch gave way and off he went, gear and all! 1 just thought I'd pass Windy's Story on to all you pards because it prov a What happens when you take chances. Whether it's swimming in deep water when you're not a good enough swimmer or running around in bad weather without being dressed for it - taking chances doesn't pay! It's just a plumb loco thing to do! Well, White Flash and 1 have to get rambling, but we'll be nding your way again real soon. Till then, sharpen up your pencils and drop White Flash and me a line or two. There's nothing 1 like better than getting letters from my pards all over the.country. Your pard, TEX RITTER WESTERN and The Hidden Menace / 0RAN?TIMMMC thought be had found a new way to break the law' But he didn't reckon that the two-fisted Prairie Hanger, TEX RITTER, was out to get him and discover the Strange secret of the HIDDEN MENACE! TELEGRAPH OFFICE BUFFALO SPRINGS As Tex 'Ritter rides along he doesn't notice a looped telegraph Wire lying on the trail — x've got Fun y anp white flash anp ANP I S,h SA s ^ WHOA, WHITE FLASH. TEX RITTER WESTERN TEX RITTER WESTERN SET HIM ROPED. RUSTY' THIS CRITTER MEANS BUSINESS/ . THIS WILL SLOW ^ HIM POWN PRONTO, TIMMINS.' . IT'S TOO RISKY.' If THE SHERIFF IN BUFFALO SPRINGS LEARNS THAT THE WIRE'S CUT, HE MAY RIPE OUT FOR A LOOK AROUNP- ANP SHOTS WOULP BE A PEAP GIVE-AWAY/ - WHAT ABOUT PLUGGING BOTH OF THEM, . BOSS? GRRRR-Rl THE MORE TELEGRAPH \7 ALL SET, )( SMART GOING/ NO USE CLIMBING^) Minutes later WIRE WE RIP POWN, r TIMMINS/ TO TOE TOP OF EVERY POLE — / l"p. gv ' ~ T , M . THE LONGER IT WILL / I'VE GOT ONE \ WHEN WE CAN YANK THE WIRE TAKE TO MAKE ENP OF THE WIRE [DOWN AS WE RIPE ALONG/ Snueu Tn REPAIRS' ) \TIEP TO THE SAPPLE Tf-ZJ- KSi fc THEY'RE GONE —A RSKD'/rJ. — horn.' «t< Rifi crrcPTrw dp i That night, in Buffalo Springs- Soon after-ward BRANP TIMMINS MUST HAVE A J— PRETTY GOOP REASON FOR WANTING TO ISOLATE BUFFALO SPRINGS' IT WILL BE PARK BY THE TIME I REACH THERE, ANP TOO LATE TO PO ANY <£ TRAILING ' BUT MAYBE THE SHERIFF HAS AN IPEA ABOUT WHERE , - THEY'RE HlPING , S JR . out/ y^L. f I'VE BEEN TRYING TO ] I'LL HAVE A M HOWPY, MISS' ROUNP UP BRANP J LOOK-SEE J OF THE PRAIFN TIMMINS ANP HIS <. AROUNP ^FIGURED YOU 1 GANG FOR CLOSE TO \TOWN, ANP A YEAR, TEX' I PONT TRY TO X I CERTAINLY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE /SCARE up ^ WOULD.' I'M UP TO.' THERE'S NO < A LEAP.' VJANE FOWLING- BANK OR POST OFFICE, )•— . rT T HE LOCAL SO THEY CAN'T BE TELEGRAPH " planning a j — "7 UL 7 operator/ a if i TEX RITTER WESTERN you say nearly a \ IN THAI CASE, MILE OF WIRE WAS \ THE WIRE TAKEN ... WELL, THE ) WOULP BE A UTE INPIANS IN THIS TEMPTING REGION VALUE COPPER I BRIBE— IF WIRE VERY HIGHLY.' J THE GANG THEY USE IT FOR -i THE WAPP1ES WHO )/ 'CUT THE WIRE /' n woulp have no t ) REASON for J /wanting to ^ -.PREVENT an .(OUTGOING MESSAGE.' BUT MAYBE THEY * WANTEP TO PREVENT AN INCOMING MESSAGE! you're RIGHT— THE LINE'S PEAP.' WE GET SO FEW , MESSAGES IN ■*- BUFFALO SPRINGS THAT X PIPN'T WON PER WHY THERE WEREN'T ANY SIGNALS COMING THROUGH ! Later, about ten miles from Buffalo Springs- INPJANS ARE the MOST LAW-ABIPING \ SINCE NO PEOPLE IN COLORAPO - BUT IT MIGHT J MESSAGES CAN BE SMART TO RIPE OUT TO THE UTE / GET THROUGH CAMP IN THE MORNING, ANP SEE ANYWAY , TEX, IF TIMMINS HAS BEEN IN f—r HT I LL G0 WITH yOU - TOUCH WITH THEM ! j/ "1 OTHERWISE, YOU M !> _ ^rr T"""~T A MIGHT HAVE TROUBLE FINPING THE UTES/ HARP TO SAY, JANE! QUIET, . , FURY.' WE'LL SUP IN FOR V A LOOK! > FURY SEEMS TO HAVE NOTICEP SOMETHING INy ' THAT CANYON , TEX! WHAT PO YOU SUPPOSE it is? y TELEGRAPH OFFICE BUFFALO; SPRINGS GRRRR THERE'S THAT WAP PY WITH THE POG.' SLAP — r LEATHER, . V boys: rf\ FURY- STAY WITH JANE! COME ON, WHITE' FLASH.' LET'S CLOSE IN — , OU THOSE < galoots' PONT CROWD ME, HOMBRE.' I'VE GOT BUSINESS WITH BRANP TIMMINS.' WAIT UP.' ■ IT'S > TIMMINS , TEX RITTER WESTERN ' IF YOU WAPDIES WANT TO LOOK YOUR BEST WHEN YOU REACH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, YOU'D _*■ . BETTER START REACHING Ji/ -PRONTO' -/If/ DON'T TRY ANY GUN FLAY, TIMMINS' As the outlaws gallop through the canyon — WISH WE KNEW \ IT MUST TIE IN WHY THEY'RE ) SOMEHOW, PIGGING THESE JANE! LET'S HOLES, TEX' THERE \ SEE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ) WHETHER ANY CONNECTION V THE UTES WITH THEIR PULLING HAVE ANY DOWN THE TELEGRAPH / ANSWERS' -r WIRE .' , . ^ THE PAY BKANP TIMMINS SEES THE SHERIFF, HOMBRE, IT'LL BE TO GIVE HIM SOMETHING T v — 7 UKE THIS ! J ( WAIT, FURY.' \ THERE'S NO USE TRYING TO STOP THEM WITHOUT 'mi TEX' m GET BACK, YOU SNARLING CRITTER \ HOW KOLA! WE ARE AT / PEACE.' OUR PEOPLE ARE OUT GATHERING THIS ROOT 4 WE USE FOR FOOD! WE CALL IT QUAMASH — AND IT — 7 MUST BE CHOSEN A V WITH GREAT S^-ti CARE.' J howhola! is YOUR TRIBE AT . PEACE.' y THE CAMP SEEMS ALMOST ’ DESERTED, JANE' WONDER WHERE ALL THE BRAVES t~T-T-— rT T ARE?^X nvT rj- TEX RITTER WESTERN CHEYENNE CROSSING THERE WILL BE LEAP WHIZZING CLEAR ACROSS THE COUNTY IF I TANGLE WITH THOSE GALOOTS, JANE/ YOU'D BETTER WAIT . —T HERE WITH FURY/ TH'ERE IS a certain kind of quamash that is bad poison - DANGEROUS TO LIVESTOCK.' THE BAD quamash GROWS IN TWO PLACES -JUNIPER FORK AND CHEYENNE -r CROSSING/ . — s' AU RIGHT, r TEX' . , THAT'S WHERE WE JUST MET THE GANG -SO IT'S PRETTY CERTAIN THEY WERE PIGGING FOR THOSE DEADLY ROOTS! < \ I'LL BET BRAND AND HIS WAPDIE5 I ARE NOW LOOKING FOR A ' FRESH SUPPLY AT S S- JUNIPER FORK.' / Soon afterward -- at Juniper Fork OUR BRONCS ARE KILEP UP, TIMi SOMETHING'S WRONG/ •" //eee THIS TIME WE'RE NOT GIVING THEM A CHANCE TO ESCAPE, WHITE FLASH.' j 7 THEIR HORSES ARE HIDDEN IN { THAT CLUMP OF COTTONWOODS - . AND IT'S YOUR JOB TO STAMPEDE T THEM! YOU'RE DEAD RIGHT ABOUT r THAT, , -< HOMBRE! J IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ROOTS, TIMMINS' TRY PLOWING UP A FEW WITH YOUR CHIN! J \ BLAZES ! > -)I KNEW /WE SHOULD 1 HAVE PLUGGED THAT WADDY THE FIRST TIME! ^ YOU MIGHT AS WELL GIVE UP ' THE IDEA, PARPNER- BECAUSE r-y THIS IS THE LAST to--' ) C TIME ' YAAAGH AAGHlIAY r HAND/ 1 \ TEX RITTER WESTERN to you still think you can outsmart. bearcat, something tells me you . got stuck with a MIGHTY UNHEALTHY CHOKE' AND TRY THIS, -J—t TOO' HERE’S SOME MOKE OF YOUR -7 OWN MEDICINE, fL^-r TIMMINS.' THAT'S RIGHT, JANE, S' AS LONG AS OUTLAWS KEEP LOOKING FOR • TROUBLE -IT'S A RANGER'S JOB TO STOP THEM.' WE LEARNED IN \ WE FIGURED THAT \S0 YOU PLANNED LPKAIRIE JUNCTION ) WITHOUT THEIR J TO SCATTER \ THAT THE yf CATTLE, THE LOCAL \ POISONOUS /GOVERNMENT -^.RANCHERS WOULD iQUAMASH ON _ 'WANTS TO BUY A \ BE FORCED TO /THE RANGE, AND 1 TRACTOF LAND IN ) SELL OUT TO US' \GET RID OF THE BUFFALO SPRINGS FOR A /RUSTLING THEIR. \CATTLE THAT j UTE RESERVATION! ./HERDS WOULD BE \ WAY.' THEN THAT'S WHY WE CUT ^.RISKY, AND ANY YOU'D BE ABLE 7 THE TELEGRAPH WIRE- )KIND OF CHEMICAL / TO STRIKE A SO THE NEWS WOULDN'T /POISON WOULD 7dEAL WITH THE k REACH BUFFALO yb- LOOK RANCHERS — AND SPRINGS/ J" ( SUSPICIOUS/ /RESELL THEIR LANI NOW THAT YOU’VE GOT 'sTHE TIMMINS (GANG BEHIND /BARS, TEX — /I SUPPOSE / / YOU'LL BE IT* s ROAMING ) | \ ON... UNLESS YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING ELSE TO ARGUE, ABOUT, TIMMINS jt TALK! ' C SUSPICIOUS/ ^RESELL their lanp Tm , , r TO THE GOVERNMENT l\r> 1 V V AT A LARGE ^ PROFIT. "v f — i/ & x ) / 1 . | rfefe- l I*>J / , 1 HERO OF THE WEST AND HIS MIGHTY STALLION WHITE FLASH HERO OF THE WEST AND HIS MIGHTY STALLION WHITE FLASH